Title: Cyclamen
Size: 60cm x 76cm
Medium: Oil over Acrylic on Board

About the Artist


Artist Statement

I've lived in Scotland for over 20 years, have three Scottish daughters, It feels good to divide my time between Ireland and Scotland now, and I teach a lot across the water..

The creative conversations that arise in teaching and demonstrating are inspiring.

In my life I have gravitated towards those things that make me feel alive. A dip in the sea, a walk in the woods, dancing, singing, playing - and really anything that involves 'great craic'. One activity has kept calling me again and again - this process of drawing and painting. This pure and particular way of entering into, almost being enfolded in, the beauty of things. Whether it's a view or a face or a flower, feeling it so fully that it Has to be 'pulled out' onto the page.

Witnessing this into being is a glorious thing. In painting I myself come vibrantly alive and the subject being painted comes newly to life. It's about freedom, joy, delight and awe and I'm privileged and honoured to be inspired to walk this path. Thank you for your engagement with these painting's I hope they ignite a joy in you that was present in their birth.

“The main thing is to be moved, to love, to hope, to tremble, to live. Be a man (woman) before being an artist!”
Auguste Rodin

CV

Aine Divine (B 1970, Republic of Ireland)

Education

Crawford College of Art and Design, Cork, One Year Certificate in Visual Education, 1988

Crawford College of Art and design, Cork, Bachelor of Fine Arts, 1991

Crawford College of art and design and University College Cork, Higher Diploma in the Principles of Teaching Art, 1995

Selected Group Exhibitions

2016   Royal Institute of painters in Watercolour Annual Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London

2016   RWS Annual Contemporary Watercolour Competition, Bankside Gallery, London

2015   Sunday Times Watercolour Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London

2015   Watercolour Society of Ireland, Annual Exhibition, County Hall, Dublin (Invited Artist)

2015   RWS Annual Contemporary Watercolour Competition, Bankside Gallery, London

2015   RSW Annual Exhibition, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh

2015   Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the year finalists’ exhibition, the National Portrait Gallery, London

2014   Royal Institute of painters in Watercolour Annual Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London

2014   RWS Annual Contemporary Watercolour Competition, Bankside Gallery, London

2014   RSW Annual Exhibition, The Meffan, Forfar

2013  RWS Annual Contemporary Watercolour Competition, Bankside      Gallery, London

2013  Greywalls - A Work of Art, Gullane Art Gallery, East Lothian

2012  RSW 132nd Annual Exhibition, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh

2012  Macmillan Art Show, Edinburgh

2012  Jack Goldhill Showcase 2012, Zabludowicz Collection, London

2011  Macmillan Art Show, Edinburgh

2011  Gullane Masters, Gullane Art Gallery, East Lothian

2011  Wayfarers, Dancing Light Gallery, West Linton

2009  RSW 129th Annual Exhibition, the Meffan, Forfar

2006  Star Portraits Exhibition, County Hall, London

2005  Society of Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Engravers Annual Show, Mall Galleries London

Awards and Commissions

2014   Commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company, to paint voice Director Cicely Berry CBE

2014   Finalist, Sky Arts ‘Portrait Artist of the Year Award’

2014   The Watermark Award, RSW Annual Show, The Meffan, Forfar

2014   Heatherleys Studio Award, RWS Annual Contemporary Watercolour Competition

2013  Shortlisted, Sky Arts ‘Portrait Artist of the Year Award’

2013  Windsor and Newton Awardwinner, RWS Annual Contemporary    Art Show

2012  Finalist, Jack Goldhill Painting Prize, Zabludowicz Collection

2009  Appointed official portrait Artist for Hibernian Football Club

2005  Winner of BBC’s ‘Star Portraits’, selected by Dr. Mo Mowlam

1993  Awardwinner, Irish National Portrait Award

Bibliography

Tai Shan Schierenberg, Kathleen Soriano and Kate Bryant: ‘A Little Book of Portraits, beyond the canvas,’ Quadrille publishing Ltd 2014, front and back cover image, pgs. 36, 37, 70, 71, 138,139

Roy McGregor: ‘Greywalls – A Hidden Gem’, GFA publishing Ltd 2013, p. 159-183

Oliver Mittelbach: ‘Dan Browns Thriller-Schauplatze als Reiseziel’, Books and Friends Gmb H. Essen 2006, p145

Pam Bates: ‘Star Portraits- a Programme in the Making’, Art of England Jul-Aug 2005, p.21-41

‘Star Portraits’, Impress Print 2005, p. 26-29

Texts

‘Let the Energy Flow’ The Artist, September 2015, p. 40-44

‘Mirror Images’, Artists & Illustrators, June 2015, Front Cover, p. 43-50

‘Develop your Watercolour Portrait skills with Aine Divine’, the Artist April 2015, p.40-45

‘Portraits of Character’, the Artist, June 2011, p. 50-52

‘Painterly Portraits’ the Artist, June 2009, p. 41-43

‘Step by Step Portraits- Aine Divine’ Art of England, Nov 2006, p. 56-60

‘Divine Portraits’ Art of England, July 2006, p. 21-24

Teaching

2012-present Portrait Tutor, The Edinburgh Drawing School

2010-2013   Art Teacher, Lasswade High School

2003           Art teacher, St. Davids High School

2001-2006   Art Teacher, Penicuik High School

Additional Information

Instructional DVD “Watercolour Portraits with Aine Divine”, Townhouse Films Ltd

Works held in private collections in the United States, Holland and Ireland